Equipment handling device



June 26, 1962 J. M. JOHNSON 3,040,908

EQUIPMENT HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYJune 26, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1960 RI 0 0 9a 3 T 2 a I zW 7 w 2 6,0 1 y ,4 P 1 1 z w Q a a 6 g5 x June 26, 1962 J. M. JOHNSON3,040,908

EQUIPMENT HANDLING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Z/VVE/VTUR:

senses Patented 26, E952 3,049,903 EQUIPMENT HANDLENG DEVICE John MelvinJohnson, ll? 8. 2nd St, Lindshorg, Karts. Filed May 26, 1969, Ser. No.31,987 8 Claims. (Cl. 2l4--1) This invention relates to an equipmenthandling device, and more specifically, to a device for lifting,lowering and supporting mechanical components such as the transmissionand differential assemblies of motor vehicles.

In the repair of overhaul of automotive transmissions, differentials,engines and the like, it is often necessary to disconnect the componentrequiring repair and to lower it from the vehicle in which it has beeninstalled. Since such components frequently weigh several hundredpounds, some mechanical assistance is ordinarily required in loweringthem from their vehicles and later lifting them into their originalpositions. A conventional mechanical or hydraulic vehicle jack isgenerally unsatisfactory for this purpose because of its failure toprovide adequate support for machinery of irregular shape, with theresulting danger that the detached piece of machinery might topple fromthe jack, and because the movement of such a jack is ordinarily limitedto vertical directions. At the very least, the use of a conventionaljack in removing a mechanical component such as an automobiletransmission is a difficult and tedious procedure and the reverseoperation of replacing the repaired transmission is even more difiicuitsince there is seldom anything to guide the worker in properlypositioning the item upon the jack so that it may be lifted and returnedto its original position.

Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide animproved lifting and lowering device which is particularly adapted foreasily and quickly Withdrawing and replacing mechanical components suchas the engines, transmissions and differentials of automobiles and othermotor vehicles. Another object is to provide a lifting and loweringdevice which is adjustable for firmly supporting a mechanical componentand for lifting and lowering that component with reference to theequipment of which it forms a part, the device being relatively safe forsuch use because of the full support it provides. A further object is toprovide a portable supporting and carrying device for lowering, liftingand moving mechanical units, the device being adapted to provide firmsupport for the unit carried thereby as the portable device is movedabout.

A still further object is to provide a device for lifting and loweringvehicle transmissions and other pieces of machinery, the device beingconstructed so that an article or component supported thereby may belifted along the same are through which it was lowered and may belocated in its proper position with ease and dispatch. Another object isto provide a relatively inexpensive device adapted to be coupled with aconventional jack, for the removal and replacement of heavy or bulkymechanical components.

Other objects will appear from the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cradle assembly of thedevice;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the longitudinal tiltcontrol mechanism for the cradle;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational View of the device;

FIGURE 6 is a broken side elevational view similar to FIGURE 5 butshowing the cradle in laterally tipped condition;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational View showing the cradle assembly inelevated position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thenumeral 1-9 generally designates a lifting and lowering devicecomprising a frame or carriage 11, a pivotal lift arm assembly 12, and acradle assembly 13. In FIGURE 1 a conventional hydraulic jack M isillustrated by broken lines in combination with the lifting device iiiand, for illustrative purposes, an automobile differential i5 isrepresented by broken lines and is shown supported by cradle 13.

Carriage ll. includes a pair of tubular legs 116 which are provided withhorizontal front portions 17 and upwardly and rearwardly sloping rearportions 118. Preferably, the rear portions of the legs convergesomewhat in an upward direction and, at their upper ends, merge withtubular support posts 19. The spaced upstanding support posts 19 havetheir lower ends welded or otherwise rigidly securcd to a cross member23 equipped at its outer ends with caster units 21. From FIGURES 2 and 1it will be observed that the support posts 19 are inclined upwardly andrearwardly and that their lower ends and cross member 2d are disposedwell ahead of the upper ends of the support posts and between the rearportions 18 of legs 16.

The free ends of leg portions 17 are provided with casters 22. Ifdesired, reinforcing bars 23, connected to the lower ends of supportposts 19 and leg portions 18 and spanned by transversebar 24, may beprovided to prevent spreading of the tubular members when subjected tounusually heavy or excessive loads.

The lift arm assembly 12 is pivotally connected adjacent one end thereofto the apex of carriage ll and comprises a pair of spaced arms 25 and2d. Directly above the cross member it) of the carriage and spaced infront of the pivotal connection between the lift arm assembly and thecarriage is a transverse member 27. This member may be welded orotherwise secured to arms 25 and 26 and prevents independent pivotalmovement of each arm about pivot pin As shown most clearly in FIG- URESl, 2 and 4, pivot pin 23 passes transversely through annular bearings 29affixed to the upper ends of posts 19. The pin also passes through abearing sleeve 3% which spans the apertured ends of the lift arms andwhich is securely afiixed thereto by welding or any other suitablemeans. Thus, the lift arm assembly 12 is pivotally connected to theupper rear end portion of the carriage for pivotal movement in avertical plane between raised and lowered positions (FIGURES 5 and 7).

Unlike arm 25, arm 26 is jointed, being provided with a front portion 31and a rear portion 32-. Front portion 31 is connected to the rearportion for independent movement in a vertical plane by means oftransverse pivot pin 33. Referring to FIGURES l and 5, it will be notedthat the front portion of arm 26 is generally L-sheped and has :1depending rear section 34 connected to the clevis end of internallythreaded tube 35 by means of pin 3-6. A crank 37, which is rotatablyconnected to the rear portion of arm 26 by means of bracket 38, has athreaded crank shaft 39 received within the internally threaded tube 35.Since bracket 35; restrains axial movement of the crank 37 and shaft 39,rotation of the crank results in axial extension or retraction of tube35 and pivotal movement of the front portion 31 of arm 26 with referenceto the rear portion of that arm.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a hydraulic jack 14 isrcmovably supported upon the carriage for lifting and lowering thepivotal lift arm assembly 12. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 7, aninverted cupshaped element 4% is fixed to the underside of transversemember 27 and the socket of this cup-shaped element loosely receives theupper end of jack piston 41. The body of the jack is supported uponcross member 2d extending between the rear casters 21 of the carriage.Since slight rocking movement of the jack will occur as the lift armassembly 12 is moved between its fully raised and fully loweredpositions, it is desirable to support the base fthe jack upon the ridgeof an inverted V-shaped member 42, extending longitudinally along thechannel of cross member 20.

Since the inverted cup element and the transverse mem ber 27 aredisposed farther from the cradle assembly 13 than from the apex of thecarriage frame, the range of movement of the free end of the lift armassembly is considerably greater than the range of possible movement ofthe jack piston. This is important in the removal or installation ofvehicle components such as transmission, differentials and the like,since the size of such parts requires that they be moved substantialvertical distances before complete withdrawal or replacement iseffected. To reinforce the elongated lifting arms 25 and 26, I providebrace rods 43 (FIGURES l, 2 and 7) which cross between the arms adjacenttransverse member 27. Specifically, each rod extends from a point alongthe inner surface of an arm in front of the transverse member over thatmember and then rearwardly to a point along the inner surface of theopposite arm beneath bearing sleeve 36. The rods are welded or otherwiserigidly secured to the lift arms and provide a trussing effect toovercome twisting forces when the load carried by the arms 25 and 26 isnot uniformly distributed therebetween.

Each lift arm 25 and 26 is provided at the front end thereof with a ringbearing 45. A cross shaft 46 of the V cradle assembly 13 extends betweenthe front ends of the arms and is rotatably received Within the circularopenings of the bearings 45. Retaining means in the form of upstandinglugs 47 and 48 at the ends of the shaft prevent inadvertent detachmentof the parts without restraining rotational movement of the shaft withinthe bearings. 7 As shown in FIGURES 3 and 7, at least one of the lugs(lug 48) is removable from the shaft to permit withdrawal of the shaftfrom the ring bearings when disassembly of the parts is desired.

The cradle 13 illustrated in the drawings is particularly suitable forsupporting vehicle transmissions and differentials and comprises a pairof side channel members 49 carried by the cross shaft 46 having theirrear ends received within the cavity of a box fitting 50. The rear endsof the side members may be extended or retracted within the cavity andthe intermediate portions of the members, releasably secured to thecross shaft by U-shaped straps 51 and bolts 52, may be swung forward oraway from each other. In addition, extension elements 53 are slidablyreceived within the channels of members 49 and are provided at theirforward ends with upstanding posts 54 which are slotted to retain theends of a suitable chain (54a) which may extend therebetween. Theopposite ends of the extension elements are equipped with rings 55adapted to receive the side channel members 49 therein for pre ventingmovement of the extension elements when downward forces are applied tothe upstanding posts thereof.

It will be noted that rings 55 extend laterally of the extensionelements and seat in notches 56 in the upstanding side flanges of themembers 49 to prevent sliding movement of the elements 53 when theyextend along the channels in parallel relation with members 49. However,by lifting the front ends of the extension elements, the rear- Wardlyand downwardly inclined loops 55 are brought into vertical position,permitting disengagement of the loops or rings from the notches 56.

Box fitting 50 is equipped with a pair of wing screws 57 which may betightened for anchoring the rear ends of side members 49 in place.Extending upwardly from the top of the fitting 50 is a jig 58 forreceiving and holding against lateral movement a portion of a mechanicalcomponent supported by the cradle.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 7, it will be noted that the cross shaft 46is provided with a depending lever arm 59 pivotally connected by pin 66to the clevis end of an internally threaded linkage tube 61. Tube 61extends along a plane spaced from but parallel with a plane passingthrough both lift arm 25 and the rear portion 32 of arm 26. A threadedshaft 62 extends into the tube 61 through the rear end thereof. The rearend portion of shaft 62 is journaled in a yoke bearing 63 equipped withlateral pivot pins 64. The pins are rotatably received within theapertures of rearwardly projecting ears 65 (FIGURES 4 and 7). The ears65 are secured to or formed as part of a cross-bar 66 extending betweenthe upper ends of support posts 19 and support the yoke 63 for pivotalmovement about a horizontal axis disposed below the main pivot axis forthe lift arm assembly 12. A crank handle 67 is afiixed to the end ofshaft 62 behind yoke 63 and, upon rotation of the crank, tube 61 isshifted axially to rotate or tip the cradle about the axis of cross.shaft 46.

In the use of the apparatus described above, jack 14 is actuated to liftcradle 13 into close proximity with the transmission, differential, orother mechanical unit to be removed from beneath a vehicle. The variouselements of the cradle are adjusted so that the mechanical componentseats snugly in place upon that cradle. After removal of the finalconnecting bolts which connect the component to the vehicle, jack 14 isagain manipulated, this time to lower the jack stern and thereby movethe cradle into the fully lowered position indicated by broken lines inFIGURE 5.

In fitting the cradle 13 to the underside of the transmission or othercorn-ponent immediately before the removal thereof, it may be founddesirable to alter the cradle position so that it assumes a longitudinalinclination. This is accomplished by rotating crank handle 67 so as totip the cradle either forwardly or rearwardly. It,is important to notethat thereafter, when the cradle is lowered, it remains tipped atsubstantially the same angle because of the parallel relationshipbetween lift arm assembly 14 and pivot tube 61.

In removing or installing a transmission, differential, or othermechanical component, it may also be desirable to tip the cradlelaterally to a limited extent. Also, it may be necessary to maintain thecradle at predetermined lateral and longitudinal inclinations while thecradle is being raised or lowered. Lateral tipping of the cradle isachieved by rotating crank handle 37 which shifts tube 35 axially andpivots the front portion of the jointed lift arm 26 either upwardly ordownwardly, de-

pending upon the direction of crank handle movement. For example, if thecrank handle 37 is rotated to shift tube 35 rearwardly, then, as shownin FIGURE 6, the bearing ring 45 provided by the front portion 31 of arm26 will drop downwardly below the level of the other bearing ring. Crossshaft 46 will therefore tip laterally as represented in FIGURES 1 and 6.

The location of the pivot axis at the apex of the carriage frame permitsthe use of a common hydraulic vehicle jack for the power unit. When thetransmission lift is not in use, the jack 14 may be easily removedtherefrom and used elsewhere. This not only results in more efficientand versatile use of the equipment but also results in a transmisisonlift of relatively low manufacturing cost.

To prevent binding between the inverted cup 46 and the stem or piston ofjack 14, the cup must either be capable of swivel action or, in the caseof the rigid mounting shown in the drawings, must have a socket ofsubstantially larger diameter than the jack stem. Also to permit lateraltipping of the cradle, the openings of ring bearings should besubstantially larger than the maximum transverse dimensions of crossshaft 46 (exclusive of lugs 47).

While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the inventionin considerable detail for purposes of illustration it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may bevaried without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an equipment handling device, a mobile carriage, a lift armassembly comprising a pair of lift arms each having a rear end pivotallysecured to said carriage for pivotal movement between raised and loweredpositions about a horizontal axis, an eqnipment-supporting cradlemounted at the opposite front ends of said arms, one of said arms beingjointed for articulative movement in a substantially vertical planeindependently of movement of the other of said arms, and means providedby said one arm for articulative movement of the same to alter theheight of the front end thereof with reference to the front end of saidother arm and for controlled lateral tipping movement of said cradle.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said opposite ends of said arms areprovided with bearing rings, said cradle being equipped with a crossshaft loosely received within said rings.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said cross shaft is rotatablyreceived within said rings for rotation about the axis thereof, andmeans provided by said device for axially rotating said shaft into aselected position and thereafter holding the same in said position.

4. In an equipment handling device having a mobile carriage, a lift armassembly comprising a pair of lift arms each having a rear end pivotallysecured to said carriage for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis,equipment-supporting means provided at the opposite front ends of saidarms, one of said arms being jointed and having a front portion and arear portion pivotally connected to each other for pivotal movement in asubstantially vertical plane, said rear portion of said one arm beingrigidly secured to the other of said arms and said front portion beingpivotally movable with reference to the other of said arms, andadjustment means provided by said one arm for articulating said jointedarm to pivot said front portion with reference to the other of said armsand thereby tip said equipment-supporting means laterally.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which said adjustment means comprises acrank screw assembly carried by said rear portion and operativelyassociated with said front portion for pivoting the same upwardly anddownwardly.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which said equipment supporting meanscomprises a cradle having a transverse shaft, said lift arms beingprovided at the front ends thereof with ring bearings receiving oppositeends of said shaft.

7. An equipment handling device comprising a mobile carriage having aplurality of wheels and a pair of spaced upstanding rear posts, a liftarm assembly pivotally secured at its rear end to the upper ends of saidposts for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis, said lift armassembly comprising a pair of lift arms extending forwardly and beingspaced apart at the front ends thereof, said front ends of said liftarms being provided with bearing rings, a cradle disposed between thefront ends of said arms and having a transverse shaft rotatably receivedwithin said bearing rings, means for rotating said shaft and the cradlecarried thereby into selected inclined positions, one of said lift armsbeing jointed for articulative movement in a substantially verticalplane to alter the height of the front end thereof with reference to thefront end of the other of said arms, and means provided by said one armfor articulating the same and for controlled lateral tipping movement ofsaid cradle.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said one arm is provided with frontand rear portions pivotall connected together, said last-mentioned meanscomprising a crank screw assembly carried by said rear portion andoperatively associated with said front portion for pivoting the sameupwardly and downwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,073,998 Raby Mar. 16, 1937 2,643,779 Hamlin June 30, 1953 2,675,209Freed Apr. 13, 1954 2,706,052 Trautman Apr. 12, 1955 2,824,657 BeasleyFeb. 25, 1958 2,838,278 Johnsen June 10, 1958

